Packer for grouting conduits



Allg- 1966 E. B. TELFORD ETAL 3,269,421

PACKER FOR GROUTING CONDUITS Filed Feb. 11, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG! ATTOR NEY 5 1966 E. B. TELFORD ETAL. 3,269,421

PACKER FOR GROUTING GONDUITS Filed Feb. 11, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTORS E B. TELFORD BY SEVERO L. VILLALON,JR. Km flan u MU A T TOR NEY5 United States Patent 3,269,421 PACKER FOR GROUTING CONDUITS E. B.Telford, Kettering, Ohio, and Sever-o L. Villaion, Jr., Duncan, Okla,assignors to Halliburton Company, Duncan, Okla, a corporation ofDelaware Filed Feb. 11, 1964, Ser. No. 344,018 9 Claims. (Cl. 13897)This invention relates to a method and apparatus for injecting fluid,the viscosity of which tends to increase with the passage of time, intoa passage opening. In particular, it relates to a grouting tool whichfinds particular utility in the repairing of and sealing of jointsbetween sub-surface conduit sections.

In sub-surface conduits, such as sewer lines, it frequently becomesnecessary to reseal joints through which leakage is taking place. Atechnique which may be employed for effecting such repairs involves theisolation of the joint and the introduction of a grouting fluid into theisolated zone for transmittal into the joint. After the viscosity of thegrouting fluid has increased, i.e. after it has set at least to gel-likeconsistency, the apparatus used to inject the grouting fluid is removed,leaving a repaired or fluid-tight joint.

Certain difliculties have been encountered in making subterraneanconduit repairs of the type heretofore noted. A particular diflicultyhas involved the leaving of residual amounts of grouting fluid within aconduit after a conduit joint has been repaired. Such residual groutingfluid, when its viscosity has increased, may tend to impede or interferewith the removal of a grouting tool. After a considerable number ofjoints have been repaired, the cumulative amount of residual materialconstitutes a meaningful economic waste. The grout residue left withinthe conduit may, under some circumstances, tend to produce conduitclogging. In addition, the presence of such residue adjacent a repairedjoint interferes with the production of a clean or flush joint. As willbe appreciated, the forming of flush joints is desirable in order tominimize the accumulation of a fluid-carried debris around a joint whichmight tend to produce a conduit stoppage and necessitate furtherrepairs.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method andapparatus for injecting a hardenable fluid or gellable fluid into apassage opening so as to minimize or obviate operational difficulties ofthe type heretofore noted.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatusby means of which a passage opening such as a conduit joint may besealed with grouting fluid in such a fashion that the seal issubstantially coplanar, i.e., flush, with adjacent conduit portions.

A related object of the invention is to provide such a method andapparatus which substantially eliminates the formation of grout residuewithin a conduit incidental to a passage opening, sealing operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide such a method andapparatus which tends to minimize the amounts of grouting fluid requiredfor the sealing of a passage opening.

It is likewise an object of the invention to provide a method andapparatus wherein the formation of residual, set grout within a conduit,which would tend to impede the removal of a grouting tool, issubstantially avoided.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a groutingmethod and apparatus by means of which a passage opening may be coveredwhile grouting fluid injected into the opening is allowed to set so asto enable the forming of a flush or substantially coplanar seal.

Ancillary to the principal objects of the invention as recited above, itis desired to provide a unique grouting fluid outlet which is closed orcovered at the grouting site while grouting fluid is allowed to set.Additional ancillary objects of the invention are to provide an improvedgrouting fluid outlet which, although uniquely structurally simple innature, tends to improve the mixing of grouting fluid components at thegrouting site and may tend to produce a more even distribution ofgrouting fluid in an annular pattern adjacent an annular conduit jointto be sealed or repaired.

In accomplishing the foregoing objects, a method is employed wherein azone, adjacent an opening into which fluid such as grouting fluid is tobe injected, is confined. As will be appreciated, grouting fluid is butrepresentative of several fluids, the viscosity of which tends toincrease with the passage of time, so as to enable their utilization aspassage-opening sealants.

Fluid such as grouting fluid is discharged under pressure into theconfined zone for transmittal to and injection through the passageopening to be sealed. Thereafter, the passage-sealing fluid is displacedfrom the confined zone and the passage opening is covered while theviscosity of the repair fluid injected into the opening is allowed toincrease.

A preferred apparatus which may be employed in practicing the invention,in its broadest structural aspects, is characterized by body meanssupporting spaced packer means. The packer means are so spaced on thebody means that they are adapted to cooperate with passage wall portionsand the body means to define a confined zone adjacent the passageopening to be sealed. Means are provided for discharging fluid such asgrouting fluid into the confined zone. Movable wall means are providedfor displacing fluid from the confined zone and for covering the passageopening while the viscosity of the grouting fluid increases.

In describing the invention, reference will be made to preferredembodiments shown in the application drawings.

In these drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional, elevational view illustrating a grouting toolprior to its positioning within a subterranean conduit to be repaired,with the viewing plane of the upper half of the tool intersecting packercouplings;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational and sectional view illustrating the FIGURE 1tool positioned within a conduit to be repaired and showing the mannerin which grouting fluid is injected into a confined zone adjacent aconduit joint for transmittal through the joint to eflect its rescaling;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional and elevational view of the FIGURE 1 tool, theupper half of which is viewed along a plane rotatably displaced from theFIGURE 1 viewing plane of the upper half of the tool so as to intersecta grout displacing member coupling. FIGURE 3 illustrates the manner inwhich grouting fluid is displaced from a confined annular zone adjacenta conduit joint being repaired and further illustrates the manner inwhich this joint is covered while the grouting fluid injected into thejoint is allowed to set;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged transverse and sectional view of the FIGURE 1apparatus as viewed along the section line 4-4 which illustrates detailsof a grouting fluid outlet arrangement; and

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of the outlet arrangement shown in FIGURE4, as viewed along the section line 55, which illustrates a resilientwall portion of the outlet.

The apparatus shown in FIGURE 1 comprises a packer-type of grouting toolwhich is particularly adapted for repairing openings or unsealed jointsin subterranean conduits such as sewer lines.

The principal components of the tool 1 shown in FIGURE 1 comprises agenerally cylindrical body 2, fluid-inflatable, generally tubular andannular, bladderlike packers 3 and 4, a grout-displacing, generallytubular,

annular, fluid-inflatable, bladder-like member 5, and groutfluidsupplying means 6. Packers 3 and 4, as well as grout-displacingmember 5, may be fabricated of elastomeric material such as rubber orneoprene.

As shown in FIGURE 1, packers 3 and 4 are mounted on the outer peripheryof cylindrical body 2 in axially spaced relationship on opposite sidesof grout-displacing member 5. Packers 3 and 4 may be substantiallycontiguous with the grouting fluid displacing member 5, when these toolcomponents are in their uninflated condition as shown in FIGURE 1.

Packer 3 may be connected to cylindrical body 2 merely by a conventionalconduit coupling 7 which serves to place the interior 8 of packer 3 influid communication with a pressurized fluid supply line 9. Similarly,the interior 10 of packer 4 may be placed in fluid communication with apressurized fluid supply line 11 by a conventional conduit coupling 12.

Supply lines 9 and 11 may be connected by a conventional T-type manifold13 to a male-type coupling fitting 14. Manifold 13 may be mounted withinthe inner periphery of cylindrical body 2 by a mounting bracket 13a. Asillustrated, bracket 13a may be secured to tool body 2 by threadedfastener assemblies 131).

By means schematically shown, a flexible supply conduit 15 may beconnected with coupling fitting 14. Pressurized fluid such as air may betransmitted through conduit 15 to concurrently supply air to lines 9 and12 for transmittal to packer interior 8 and 10 respectively. Asschematically shown in FIGURE 1, pressurized air may be supplied by aconventional and schematically shown air pump 16.

The interior 17 of grouting-fluid-displacing member 5 may be connectedto a pressurized air supply line 18 by a conventional conduit coupling19 as shown in FIGURES l and 3. Coupling 19 may also comprise the soleconnection between member 5 and tool body 2.

As schematically shown in FIGURE 1, conduit 18 may be flexible andextend to an air pump such as the air pump 16 which supplies pressurizedair to conduits 9 and 11. By means such as conventional andschematically shown valves 19 and 20, pressurized air may be suppliedsimultaneously to packers 3 and 4, independent of the subsequentsupplying of pressurized air to groutingfluid-displacing member 5.

As will be appreciated, flexible conduit 18 and 15 would extend from thetool 1, when it was positioned in a subterranean conduit, through theconduit and upwardly through means such as a sewer manhole to thesurfacelocated pump 16.

As noted, each of the packers 3 and 4 may be connected to thecylindrical periphery of the tool body 2 solely by the conduit couplings7 and 12 respectively. However, packers 3 and 4 may also be providedwith Web-like, annular lips 21 and 22, respectively, which are heldagainst the outer surface of the cylindrical body 2 by guide shoes 23and 24 so as to stabilize the packers on the tool body.

Each guide shoe 23 and 24 may be fabricated of elastomeric material suchas rubber and telescoped over an end of the cylindrical body 2. Eachguide shoe may be secured in place by means such as threaded fasteners25 which pass through the shoe body and the cylindrical tool body 2.

End-mounted guide shoes 23 includes an annular recess 26 adjacent theouter periphery of cylindrical body 2, which recess faces the adjacentpacker 3. The web-like, annular packer lip 21, extending from the packer3, is received within the recess 26 and pressed against the outerperiphery of the body 2 by annular shoe portion 23a. Similarly, end shoe24 includes an annular recess 27 corresponding to recess 26 of the endshoe 23. Recess 27 faces and lies adjacent to packer 4. The annularpacker lip 22 extends into the recess 27 and is held against the outerperiphery of the cylindrical body 2 by the annular shoe portion 24a.

The grouting fluid supplying or discharging means 6, illustrated inFIGURES 1 through 4, may be employed for the injection of a chemicalgrout comprising a catalyzed, aqueous mixture of acrylamide andN,N'-methylenebisacrylamide which gels rapidly at ordinaryconcentrations and temperatures. Two separate components of this grout,one of which would be a catalyst, may be individually transmitted fromsupply sources to the tool at a repair site.

The components of the grout-discharging means 6, as shown in thedrawings, include first and second, schematically illustrated, flexibleconduits 28 and 29 which may extend from the tool 1, through a conduitto be repaired, and up a manhole to grout-component supply pumps 30 and31. Valves 32 and 33 may be employed to control the flow of groutingmixture components through the conduits 28 and 29.

As shown in FIGURES 1 and 4, conduits 28 and 29 are connected byconventional conduit couplings 34 and 35 to an outlet fitting 36. Outletfitting 36 includes passage portions 37 and 38 which communicaterespectively with the interior passages 39 and 40 of conduits 28 and 29respectively.

Fitting 36 may be secured to a segment portion 2a of cylindrical body 2.A conventional gasket 41 may be inserted between the mounting segment 2aand fitting 36. Thread fasteners such as screws 42, 43, and 44 may beemployed to clamp the fitting 36 against the mounting segment 2a. Asillustrated in FIGURE 4, mounting segment 2a may include a passageportion 45 which defines a continuation of fitting passage portion 37and a passage portion 46 which defines a continuation of fitting passageportion 38.

Passage portions 37, 39, and 45 cooperate to define a supply passagewhich intersects the cylindrical wall of body 2 to terminate in anoutlet aperture 45a on the periphery of the body 2. Similarly, passageportions 38, 40, and 46 cooperate to define another and separate passagewhich also intersects the cylindrical wall of tool body 2 and terminatesin an outlet aperture 46a on the periphery of body 2.

A resilient wall portion or flap 47, fabricated of elastomeric materialsuch as rubber or neoprene, is partially secured by means such as aconventional epoxy adhesive to the outer periphery of cylindrical body 2so as to conform to the curvature of the cylindrical body and extendsacross the outlet apertures 45a and 46a.

As shown in FIGURE 5, resilient wall section 47 may be rectangular incharacter and adhesively secured to cylindrical body 2 along three sides47a, 47b and 47c. One edge 47d of resilient wall portion 47 remainsunattached to the cylindrical body 2. A slit 47c extends transverselyinwardly from edge 47d and terminates generally adjacent and betweenapertures 45a and 46a, as shown. As illustrated, slit 47c is generallyaligned with a median plane disposed between the outlet apertures 45aand 46a.

Slit, resilient wall 47, with one unsecured edge, provides a resilientbalfle which effects the lateral deflection and mixing or commingling ofgrouting fluid components exiting from the outlet apertures 45a and 46a.The mixed grouting components, after exiting from the apertures 45a and46a, flow outwardly between the cylindrical body 2 and the unsecurededge 47d of resilient wall 47. This outward flow is facilitated by theresilient character of the wall 47 as well as the slit nature of theedge 47d.

When the tool 1, as shown in FIGURE 1, is employed to eflect therepairing of leaky joints in a subterranean conduit such as a sewerline, it is necessary to provide means for moving the tool 1 through thesewer line to the desired repair site. Accordingly, tool 1 may beprovided with cable and yoke assemblies secured by conventionalfastening means to opposite ends of the interior of cylindrical body 2.Each such assembly may comprise a plurality of brackets, such asbrackets 48 secured to the interior of the left end of tool body 2 asshown in FIGURE 1 and brackets 49 secured to the interior of the rightend of the tool as shOWn in this figure. Brackets 48 and 49,respectively, are symmetrically spaced about the interior of thecylindrical body 2 and attached to the cylindrical body by means such asconventional threaded fasteners 50. Each such bracket may be attached toa cable section 51. The cable sections 51 of each yoke assembly may bejoined to a common cable extending away from the tool 1 through thesewer line to be repaired. As will be appreciated, such cables may bemanipulated at manhole locations so as to enable the tool 1 to be drawnaxially of the conduit to effect its desired positioning.

FIGURE 2 illustrates the tool 1 positioned adjacent an annular conduitjoint 52. FIGURE 2 also illustrates the tool 1 after the packers 3 and 4have been air inflated so as to cause them to expand radially outwardlyinto peripheral engagement with conduit sections or wall portions 53 and54 on opposite sides of joint or passage opening 52. With packers 3 and4 thus expanded, they define, in cooperation with cylindrical body 2 andthe portions of the conduit wall between the packers, a confined annularzone 55.

After the annular zone 55 has been confined adjacent the repair site,grouting fluid components may be flowed outwardly of the apertures a and46a so as to flow into the annular zone 55 for transmittal to andthrough the conduit joint 52. As the grouting fluid components leave theapertures 45a and 46a, they impinge against the resilient Wall 47 andare deflected so as to cause an effective intermixing of the componentsas they leave the tool body 2. The mixed grout components may then bedeflected to some extent by the undersurface of the member 5 so as totend to be dispersed somewhat more uniformly through the annular space55 than would occur in the absence of the member 5. To some extent, thisdispersal may be enhanced by an annular indentation 56 preformed in theundersurface of the relaxed or uninflated member 5, as shown in FIGURE2.

As is also shown in FIGURE 2, the mixture 57 of grouting fluidcomponents, during the grouting operation, will substantialy occupy theconfined annular space 55 and pass through the joint 52 and penetrate tosome extent the surrounding soil or earthen fill 58.

FIGURE 3 illustrates the manner in which the member 5 may be employed tosubstantially fully displace grouting fluid 57 from the confined annularspace 55. When pressurized fluid such as air is introduced into theinterior 17 of member 5, this member expands radially and axially.

The radial expansion of member 5 causes the inner or under surface 5a ofthis member to engage the resilient wall 47 and to thus tend to holdthis wall against outlet apertures 45a and 46a so as to close thesegrouting fluid outlets. The outer wall 5b of member 5 engages theperiphery of the sewer conduit so as to extend across the joint oropening 52 and conformingly engage the inner walls of the conduitsections 53 and 54 adjacent the opening 52.

The axial expansion of the packer 5 causes the member side walls and 5:1to respectively engage the expanded, i.e. air-inflated, packers 3 and 4.

The radial and axial expansion of the member 5 causes the member 5 tosubstantially fully occupy the confined annular space 55 so as todisplace grouting fluid 57 from this space and cause the displacedmaterial to pass through the conduit opening 52.

The engagement of the member wall 5]) in conforming relationship withthe sewer conduit in the vicinity of the conduit opening 52, cause groutwithin the opening 52 to form a flush seal in relation to the innerconduit wall portions. The member wall 5a, in engaging the outlet flapor wall 47, tends to prevent the draining of grouting fluid through theoutlet apertures 45a and 46a.

In describing the structure and overall mode of operation of the tool 1,several of the advantages of the invention have been demonstrated. Theunique grouting-fluiddisplacing member enables a passage opening, suchas a conduit joint or break, to be sealed without leaving wasteful and/or passage-clogging, grout residue within the conduit interior. Theeffective removal of grout residue from the space between the packersfacilitates the removal of the tool from the passage without theincurrence of resistance which might result from interposed, partiallysolidified or gelled grouting fluid.

The grout-displacing member, in expanding into conforming engagementwith the outer body of the tool adjacent the grout component outlets,tends to etfect the closing of these outlets so as to deter an undesireddrainage of fluid into the repair zone. The expansion of thegroutdisplacing member into conforming engagement with a conduit,adjacent a conduit opening to be sealed, enables the forming of auniquely flush joint and supports the sealing material while it issetting; i.e. while the viscosity is increasing.

Additional advantages may be attributed to the unique grouting outletarrangement incorporated in the preferred embodiment of the invention,The apertures 45a and 46a, in combination with the resilient wall 47,provide a uniquely simple but highly effective grouting componentmixingdevice. The overlying presence of the grout-dis placing member 5, inrelation to the grout outlet, may tend to provide an improved dispersalof the mixed grout components in the region of a zone to be repaired.

Other advantages of the invention relate to the effective butstructurally simple manner in which. the packers are secured to thecylindrical body of the tool. The sole mechanical interconnectionsbetween the packers and the tool body comprise conduit couplings. Withthese limited connections, and the supplemental, stabilizing elfect ofthe end shoe secured, annular packer webs, the packers are eflectivelyand stably supported upon the tool body.

Those skilled in the art and having the benefit of the disclosure of theinvention, may recognize certain additional deletions, substitutions,and modifications which would lie within the scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims. It will also be recognized that theinventions are not limited in their utility to the injection of thedisclosed grouting fluids nor to the repairing of leaking conduitjoints.

We claim:

1. A method of injecting grouting fluid into an opening in a conduitWall, said method comprising:

confining an annular zone adjacent an opening in a conduit wall intowhich grouting fluid is to be injected;

discharging grouting fluid into said confined annular zone fortransmittal to and injection through said opening; displacing groutingfluid, substantially as an annular mass, in a radially outward directionfrom said annular zone and covering said opening; and

allowing the viscosity of grouting fluid injected into said opening toincrease while said opening remains covered.

2. A method of injecting grouting fluid into an opening, said methodcomprising:

confining an annular Zone adjacent an opening into which grouting fluidis to be injected;

separately discharging pressurized grouting fluid components from fluidpassage outlets; deflecting said dis charging, grouting fluid componentsat least partially into commingling relationship prior to their entryinto said confined annular zone;

discharging commingled grouting fluid components into said confinedannular zone for transmittal to and injection through said opening;

displacing grouting fluid in a radially outward direction from saidannular zone and covering said opening; and

allowing the viscosity of grouting fluid injected into said opening toincrease while said opening remains covered.

3. An apparatus for injecting grouting fluid into an opening in aconduit wall, said apparatus comprising:

body means;

a pair of generally annular packer means spaced on said body means andadapted to cooperate with conduit wall portions and said body means todefine a confined annular zone;

means for discharging grouting fluid into said confined zone;

radially movable annular wall means for thereafter displacing groutingfluid from said confined annular zone and for covering said opening; and

means for moving said annular wall means generally radially outwardlythrough said confined annular zone.

4. An apparatus as described in claim 3 wherein said means fordischarging fluid into said confined zone includes:

fluid passage means intersecting said body means; and

resilient wall means covering said passage means, having edge portionssecured to said body means, and including a resiliently distensibleoutlet.

5. An apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein said fluid passage meansincludes a pair of mutually independent fluid passages, each of whichterminates in an aperture lying adjacent said resilient wall means, witheach of said passages being adapted to supply a component of saidpressurized fluid.

6. An apparatus for injecting grouting fluid into an opening in aconduit wall, said apparatus comprising:

a generally cylindrical body;

a pair of fluid inflatable, elastic, annular and tubular packers carriedby and axially spaced on the outer periphery of said cylindrical body,said packers being adapted to be inflated into peripheral engagementwith Wall portions of a conduit on opposite sides of a conduit openingwhich is to receive grouting fluid;

first conduit means for supplying pressurized fluid to said packers toeffect the inflation thereof;

said packers, when inflated into engagement with said conduit wallportions, defining, in cooperation with said cylindrical body and saidconduit, a confined annular zone adjacent said conduit opening;

means for discharging grouting fluid into said confined annular zone,said means including grouting fluid passage means intersecting saidcylindrical body and terminating in grouting fluid, outlet aperturemeans;

a fluid inflatable, elastic, annular, and tubular grouting fluiddisplacing member carried on the outer periphery of said cylindricalbody between said packers, said member being disposed radially outwardlyof said outlet aperture means and adapted to be positioned between saidoutlet aperture means and a conduit opening which is to receive groutingfluid;

second conduit means for supplying pressurized fluid to said member toeflect the inflation thereof whereby said member will expand radiallyinto peripheral engagement with said conduit and generally axially intoengagement with said packers, after their inflation, so as tosubstantially occupy said confined annular zone, displace grouting fluidtherefrom, cover said conduit opening, and extend across outlet aperturemeans.

7. An apparatus as described in claim 6 wherein said grouting fluidpassage means includes mutually independent, first and second fluidpassages, each of which terminates in a separate outlet aperture and isadapted to convey a pressurized fluid component of said grouting fluid;and wherein said means for discharging grouting fluid further includes aresilient wall secured to the outer periphery of said cylindrical body,covering each of said outlet apertures and disposed between said outletsand said grouting fluid displacing member; said resilient wall having atleast some edge portions ad'hesively secured to the outer periphery ofsaid cylindrical body and at least one edge portion unsecured to saidcylindrical body; said resilient wall including a slit extendinginwardly from said unsecured edge portion and generally aligned with aplane disposed between said outlet apertures.

8. An apparatus as described in claim 7 further including an annularguide shoe secured to the outer periphery of each end of saidcylindrical body, each of said annular guide shoes including an annularrecess adjacent the outer periphery of said cylindrical body and facingan adjacent packer; each of said packers including an annular web lyingadjacent the outer periphery of said cylindrical body and extendingaxially of said cylindrical body into the annular recess of the guideshoe to which it is adjacent.

9. A packer assembly comprising:

generally cylindrical body means;

annular guide shoe means secured to the outer periph ery of said bodymeans; and

tubular, annular, and fluid inflatable packer means peripherallyencircling at least a portion of said body means;

said guide shoe means including a generally annular recess adjacent theouter periphery of said body means and facing said packer means;

said packer means including web means lying adjacent the outer peripheryof said body means and extending generally axially of said body meansinto said annular recess of said guide shoe means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,672,162 6/1949Brauer 138-97 3,103,235 9/1963 Stringham 138-97 3,168,908 2/1965Zurbrigen 138-97 FOREIGN PATENTS 212,715 3/ 1924 Great Britain.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

C. HOUCK, Assistant Examiner.

1. A METHOD OF INJECTING GROUTING FLUID INTO AN OPENING IN A CONDUITWALL, SAID METHOD COMPRISING: CONFINING AN ANNULAR ZONE ADJACENT ANOPENING IN A CONDUIT WALL INTO WHICH GROUTING FLUID IS TO BE INJECTED;DISCHARGING GROUTING FLUID INTO SAID CONFINED ANNULAR ZONE FORTRANSMITTAL TO AND INJECTION THROUGH SAID OPENING; DISPLACING GROUTINGFLUID, SUBSTANTIALLY AS AN ANNULAR MASS, IN A RADIALLY OUTWARD DIRECTIONFROM SAID ANNULAR ZONE AND COVERING SAID OPENING; AND ALLOWING THEVISCOSITY OF GROUTING FLUID INJECTED INTO SAID OPENING TO INCREASE WHILESAID OPENING REMAINS COVERED.